Remembering Reagan

June 11, 2004 at 8:49 PM EST - Updated June 28 at 4:47 AM

As the nation mourns the loss of Ronald Reagan, many at home remember our 40th president most fondly. Business leader Ray Gaster, who's also chairman of the local USO chapter, says Reagan was a man of real character, the kind that comes along very seldom.

In his view, as with many others, President Reagan made Americans more optimistic and was one of the biggest morale boosters for the military since World War II. "They named an aircraft carrier after him," Gaster said. "Whenever he came on board, you see how the military reacted to him and treated him, so for anyone in the military this is a great loss."